Stockton Softball Team Drops Pair of Close Shutouts to Nation's Top Team

Three days after losing its first game of the season, the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey softball team went toe-to-toe with the top team in the country, but ultimately lost a pair of close games.

Montclair State, ranked No. 1 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, shutout the Ospreys by scores of 1-0 and 2-0 on Saturday, March 30, according to Stockton's website.

Ospreys pitchers Michelle Pietrocola and Brittany Ksiezopolski have combined to help Stockton start the season strong, winning 13 of their first 14 games, including a no-hitter by each pitcher.

However, on Saturday, they went up against an all-American pitcher in Alex Hill, who threw both games for Montclair, including a one-hitter in the first game.

Hill silenced an offense that has produced six runs in nine of its outings this season, and one that came alive in the final inning of a doubleheader against St. Joseph's College of Long Island on Wednesday, March 27, for a 5-4 win. It produced four runs in the seventh inning.

There were no comebacks in store on Saturday.

In the first game, Hill struck out 12 batters and gave up just one hit, to Nicole Scanlon. In the second, Hill allowed just three hits.

In the first game, Pietrocola struck out six batters and allowed four hits. Tara Petrucelli's solo home run in the fourth inning for Montclair proved the difference in the 1-0 win for the Red Hawks.

In the second game, Ksiezopolski struck out five batters and allowed eight hits. Dana Egan's RBI single in the second inning put Montclair State on the board, and Jaclyn Allegretta's RBI single in the seventh plated Hill for the insurance run.

Jessica Goncalves, Dominique Dorris and Nicole Chabak recorded hits for Stockton in the second game.

Stockton dropped to 13-3 overall, while dropping their first two games of New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. The Ospreys' season continues on Tuesday, April 3, when they host The College of New Jersey.

Montclair State (16-0, 2-0) remained undefeated overall and picked up their first two wins in conference play.